Brooks to Navigators

26 year-old Australian Benjamin Brooks has signed a one-year contract with the Navigators Insurance Cycling Team for the 2006 season. Next year will be mark his third year racing Stateside, after two strong seasons with the Jelly Belly-Pool Gel Cycling Team.

"It's a bit bigger opportunity and with their program in Europe, I'll get to do some bigger races as well," said Brooks to Cyclingnews, having recently returned from the U.S. last Tuesday and competed in the Grafton to Inverell classic over the weekend, where he was part of the early selection before finishing in 12th place.

Navigators' program will hopefully allow the New South Welshman to further realise his potential as a gifted all-rounder, who spent his earlier professional years racing for the ill-fated Linda McCartney cycling team in 2000 and 2001. "I've got one more race with Jelly Belly, the Herald Sun Tour in Victoria, so I want to go out on a good note," he added.